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Just watched the honor guard present colors while the National Anthem played at the Cowboys - Washington game. Where this this detachment come from?

The E-3 on the left of the formation, outermost on the American flag side had his rifle at left shoulder arms, which was correct. BUT, his forearm was crooked, as well as his cover. Slight pull on his blouse just below the left breast pocket. Where have all the tailors gone?

All four were wearing covers somewhat out of shape. Too much room between the bill of the cap and the emblem. Looked like one of the old covers worn by Sgt. Schultz. Flatten them out guys, just takes a lot of hot water and put them under a footlocker until the frame dries.

Difficult to see many details of the guys on the right side of the formation, but everyone needs to do some more work on their covers. Two of them had them tilted to the back, and the other one had his out of position. I know, with the wind blowing the flag around, it is difficult to keep them in exact position, but they should be able to do better than that. Remember, you are the only four guys that are allowed to deploy your chinstraps.

Wow, I am getting grouchy in my old age.

StewNTexas wrote:
Wow, I am getting grouchy in my old age.

no..... you sound just like a Retired Gunny that I used to work with.....

Don't get me started about the flags being incorrectly oriented on the back of almost every NFL helmet.
Drives me crazy.

StewNTexas wrote:Just watched the honor guard present colors while the National Anthem played at the Cowboys - Washington game. Where this this detachment come from?

The E-3 on the left of the formation, outermost on the American flag side had his rifle at left shoulder arms, which was correct. BUT, his forearm was crooked, as well as his cover. Slight pull on his blouse just below the left breast pocket. Where have all the tailors gone?

All four were wearing covers somewhat out of shape. Too much room between the bill of the cap and the emblem. Looked like one of the old covers worn by Sgt. Schultz. Flatten them out guys, just takes a lot of hot water and put them under a footlocker until the frame dries.

Difficult to see many details of the guys on the right side of the formation, but everyone needs to do some more work on their covers. Two of them had them tilted to the back, and the other one had his out of position. I know, with the wind blowing the flag around, it is difficult to keep them in exact position, but they should be able to do better than that. Remember, you are the only four guys that are allowed to deploy your chinstraps.

Wow, I am getting grouchy in my old age.

They are only a reflection of their leadership.

WHAT? No latte salute?

PLEASE, don't make me relive the moments after seeing the 'latte salute' on the news, both local and nationally.

I have been at the bottom of the steps in the 'old corps', but it was nothing like it is today. Yeah, I had four full sets of 'Blues', along with two extra sets of buttons, and 86 pairs of white gloves. But back then, we (HXM-1) wore utilities for the majority of flights. We were considered part of the flight crew, and dress uniforms were not required. Our helicopters were much smaller (HSS-2Z's mostly) and there were not as many steps. You might think the machines were increasing in size corresponding to the ego size of the persons in them.

Very seldom called on to salute, although little John-John always liked to, his dad - not so much. There is time for silliness, and time to get the job done. I wish these guys could just distinguish the difference.

You have really hit a raw nerve with me too. I rant and rave to my poor wife about the improper display of the Flag. Payne Stewart is killed, the Flag goes to half staff. A few college kids get killed, the Flag goes to half staff..... It is so special that the Flag is only lowered to half staff on Memorial Day until noon. It seems every football game starts out with Military members carrying a flag horizontally out on the field. Do they not know the etiquette?

http://www.almanac.com/content/american-flag-guidelines" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"It should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free."

RoyGBiv wrote:Don't get me started about the flags being incorrectly oriented on the back of almost every NFL helmet.
Drives me crazy.

That's funny, especially when you look at the picture you use as your avatar.

RoyGBiv wrote:Don't get me started about the flags being incorrectly oriented on the back of almost every NFL helmet.
Drives me crazy.
[ Image ]
[ Image ]
[ Image ]

Can you explain for those of us not as informed as we apparently should be?

Two friends, one a retired Marine Colonel, the other a retired Army SF Major and myself a former E5 paratrooper all agree we woildn't last five minutes in today's armed forces. There isn't one of us who are PC enough.

howdy wrote:You have really hit a raw nerve with me too. I rant and rave to my poor wife about the improper display of the Flag. Payne Stewart is killed, the Flag goes to half staff. A few college kids get killed, the Flag goes to half staff..... It is so special that the Flag is only lowered to half staff on Memorial Day until noon. It seems every football game starts out with Military members carrying a flag horizontally out on the field. Do they not know the etiquette?

http://www.almanac.com/content/american-flag-guidelines" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"It should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free."

About 4 spots further down, that link says the flag should not be part of a costume. Is that the issue with the Helmets? That would seem to apply.

3dfxMM wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:Don't get me started about the flags being incorrectly oriented on the back of almost every NFL helmet.
Drives me crazy.
[ Image ]
[ Image ]
[ Image ]

Can you explain for those of us not as informed as we apparently should be?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Flag_Code" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Short version...
When the flag is displayed on a moving object (a car, a soldier, etc), the field of stars should always be flown "forward", with respect to the object it's displayed on moving forward. Imagine if the flag on those helmets is an actual flag, hung on a staff in that position. We know the staff is always mounted on the side with the field of stars, right? Well,m when the player begins to move forward, the front of the flag will flip over so that the stripes trail the field of stars as the player moves forward. So... the flag with the field of stars on the left should always be placed on the left side of a moving object. If the NFL wants to display the flag in that location, the field of stars should be reversed, on the right.

Like this...


Not to mention that it's a violation of flag code to display the flag on a uniform at all.

The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, firefighters, police officers, and members of patriotic organizations.

n5wd wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:Don't get me started about the flags being incorrectly oriented on the back of almost every NFL helmet.
Drives me crazy.

That's funny, especially when you look at the picture you use as your avatar.

I do feel a bit of guilt about that...

I'm not really "displaying" the flag... but.. I promise that if I was making billions of dollars using a flag in my advertising (uniforms), I'd get it right.

Mea culpa.

There may be a cross wind on the football field.

Doesn't it matter if the flag is on the right or left side to determine orientation? Since it's on the back, it shouldn't matter should it?

Also, I respect and appreciate they have the flag on their helmets. I have a contractors cap with the flag patch on it and get compliments on it often. By the way, it is oriented with field of blue and stars to the left as you look at it from the front.


Mine is very similar to this one.

http://m.lapolicegear.com/tausaflha.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;